One of the pressures traditionally associated with the England job is the propensity of the press to have nominated your successor months or even years before you lose your grip on the chalice. Perhaps one of the reasons Gareth Southgate has been able to operate in such a seemingly carefree, calm manner is the fact that there really haven't been any other contenders for the role. Fortunately, he has done quite well, which means the journos haven't felt the need to start sharpening their knives and cracking open the annointing oil, but the lack of serious alternatives may be about to change.
I caught up with the week's news today and was mildly surprised to see that Lampard seems to be getting closer to the Chelsea gig. Wilder and Smith will both be Premier League managers next year, joining Howe, Hodgson, Dyche and Potter to form the largest English contingent the top flight has had for many years. Further down the divisions, Woodgate has just come in at Boro, Bowyer seems to be doing well at Charlton and Sol Campbell has made a good start at Macclesfield. Add to that the brothers Cowley at Lincoln, Harford at Luton and the potential appointment of Cooper at Swansea and there is a very English flavour to the managers' union in the Football League, with a wide variety of pathways taken to top level coaching. Therefore the phenomenon of British and English coaches being overlooked seems to be over, but now they have to earn their stripes. If club owners are willing to take a punt, and they should be applauded for doing so, then it is up to the coaches to deliver the goods.
The problem for the English Premier League managers is that they will be up against arguably the best domestic league coach in the world and two of the best performing Premier League sides of all time. How far behind city can Chelsea afford to fall with a novice coach at the helm? If City and Liverpool continue to maintain the standards of last season and their chasers also raise their game, what does that mean for Sheffield, Villa and Brighton?
Hopefully, by this time next year, Southgate will still be doing well with the
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